The Dead and the Gone

With haunting themes of family, faith, personal change, and courage, this powerful novel--a companion to "Life As We Knew It"--explores how a young man takes on unimaginable responsibilities.

chapter 1 Wednesday, May 18 At the moment when life as he had known it changed forever, Alex Morales was behind the counter at Joeys Pizza, slicing a spinach pesto pie into eight roughly equal pieces. "I ordered an antipasto, also." "Its right here, sir," Alex said. "And your order of garlic knots." "Thanks," the man said. "Wait a second. Arent you Carlos, Luiss kid?" Alex grinned. "Carlos is my older brother," he said. "Im Alex." "Thats right," the man said. "Look, could you tell your dad theres a problem with the plumbing in twelve B?" "My fathers away for a few days," Alex said. "Hes in Puerto Rico for my grandmothers funeral. But he should be back on Saturday. Ill tell him as soon as he gets home." "Dont worry about it," the man said. "Its waited this long. Im sorry to hear about your grandmother." "Thank you," Alex said. "So where is your brother these days?" the man asked. "Hes in the Marines," Alex said. "Hes stationed at Twentynine Palms, in California." "Good for him," the man said. "Give him my regards. Greg Dunlap, apartment twelve B." "Ill do that," Alex said. "And Ill be sure to tell my father about your plumbing." Mr. Dunlap smiled. "You in school?" he asked. Alex nodded. "I go to St. Vincent de Paul Academy," he said. "Good school," Mr. Dunlap said. "Bob, my partner, went there and he says its the best school in the city. You know where you want to go to college?" Alex knew exactly where he wanted to go, and where hed be happy to go, and where he would be satisfied to go. "Georgetowns my first choice," he said. "But it depends on the financial package. And if they accept me, of course." Mr. Dunlap nodded. "Ill tell Bob Luiss kid goes to Vincent de Paul," he said. "You two can swap stories someday." "Great," Alex said. "Your bill comes to $32.77." Mr. Dunlap handed him two twenties. "Keep the change," he said. "Put it toward your college fund. And be sure to give Carlos my regards. Luis must be very proud of both his sons." "Thank you," Alex said, passing the pizza, the antipasto, and the bag of garlic knots to Mr. Dunlap. "Ill remember to tell my father about the plumbing as soon as he gets back." "No hurry," Mr. Dunlap said. Alex knew they always said, "No hurry," when they meant "Get it done right now." But a seven-dollar tip guaranteed that Alex would tell Papi about the plumbing problems in 12B the minute he returned from Nanas funeral. "The cables out," Joey grumbled from the kitchen. "Yankees have the bases loaded in the top of the sixth and the cable dies on me." "Its May," Alex said. "What difference does it make?" "I have a bet on that game," Joey said. Alex knew better than to point out the game was still going on even if the cable was out. Instead he turned his attention to the next customer, filling her order for two slices of pepperoni pizza and a large Coke. He didnt get away until ten, later than he usually worked, but the pizza parlor was short staffed, and

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Excerpted from The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
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